cannot have it at a later hour. I have, therefore, but little more time left than enough to tell you that I find it requires all my philosophy to bear your long absence, and that I think of the moment that is to reunite us without any philosophy at all. Bullock and Georgina left me on Saturday last. They contributed to make the week pass much more glidingly than it would otherwise have done. We had several pleasant walks, and discovered three new ones. I am happy to hear that you see so many of your friends at Sandymount. Could you prevail on any of them to make us a visit at Kingsbury? John's leave of absence must, I suppose, be as uncertain as my father's movements, which have really been affected by accidents that he could not possibly foresee. Your account of Charles is alarming; it ought, however, to prepare you and all his friends for anything that may happen. For myself, I have better hopes of him. Pray say everything you can in prudence. Say to your mother, not to suffer her mind to be too much cast down by the many evils this life necessarily brings on those who see much of it, but to think more of the many comforts it also yields us. Ever your affectionate and constant husband, TO THE SAME. MY DEAREST Jane, Conway, August 29, 1801. Last night we slept We arrived here this evening, and to-morrow proceed to Amlwch, where I shall remain with my father till Tuesday. On that evening I shall be at Holyhead (as I fixed in my letter of yesterday), waiting your arrival. I trust it will not be later than Thursday, as my father wishes to set out on his return the following day. We have so far had a good journey, except that we found it difficult to procure horses on some stages. at Llangollen, where we did not arrive till eleven o'clock, and I had the pleasure of seeing the valley by moonlight. With what anxiety I shall look out for the packet on Wednesday and Thursday, freighted as it will be with what is most precious to me in life! You will not look out with less eagerness for the rock of Holyhead. I shall wait there till your arrival, whenever that may be. I am sure you will not keep me in expectation a minute longer than you can avoid. How it has happened that my father has so often changed his plans, I must tell you when we meet. Pray remember me affectionately to your father and mother, and tell them how truly sorry I am that you are to leave them at so short a notice. Ever, dearest Jane, Your fond and faithful husband, H. F. CARY. In November he writes TO THE REV. THOMAS PRICE. Kingsbury, November 5, 1801. MY DEAR PRICE, I must request your indulgence for having neglected to answer your letter by this evening's post, but will take the first opportunity of forwarding this to you. The Enville scheme, with all good wishes for Wilkes's company, I must at present decline, as I have so many prior claims to answer, if I do leave home at all, for which I feel but little disposed. Perhaps you will be able to prevail on him to proceed to Birmingham with you on Wednesday, and to spend the remainder of the week here. If you can do so, pray ask him to write to me and apprise me of his intention. I have just been reading the dipus in Colono, in the plot of which I can discover no resemblance to the Samson Agonistes, according to your notion, except that the chief character in both plays is blind. There is a great similarity too in the manner in which they open, and by this, perhaps, you were deceived. I am now in the Philoctetes, and feel much for the very natural expressions of intense bodily pain, so like what we both heard, I believe, in this house some months ago. It is very gratifying to see the opposition to the Peace so weak. Mr. Pitt's speech is admirable, and Mr. Fox's worthy of himself. The debates have set in very opportunely with the severe weather, to make the fireside more agreeable. If you do not meet your friend whom you expect at Birmingham, perhaps you will join Wilkes if he honours me with a visit. Ever yours truly, H. F. CARY. LITERARY JOURNAL, 1801. To May 17. Read Demetrius Phalereus: Captain Turner's Embassy to Bootan and Tibet, a well-written and entertaining account of countries hitherto little known Currie's Life of Burns, the Scotch Poet: Modern Philosophers, a new novel, very laughable, but too long: Dr. Gillies' translation of Aristotle's Ethics and Politics, in two vols., an admirable work, deserving of repeated perusal; I have not, however, had an opportunity of comparing it with the original: Dr. Burney's Life of Metastasio, in three vols., chiefly compiled from his letters: Carmina quinque Illustrium Poetarum, viz., Bembi, Naugerii, Castilioni, Cottæ et Flaminii, edit. Florentiae, apud Laurentium Terrentinum, 1552. 18. Finished the Old Testament, with Jane. 19. Began Bossuet, Histoire Universelle, with Jane. 21. Finished the first vol. of Sir William Jones's Works, consisting chiefly of dissertations on subjects of Asiatic history and literature; I have also read most of the sixth vol. of his works, viz., Hitopadesa, Sacontalà and Hymns to the Hyndu Deities, &c. 22 to June 26. Read the first eleven books of the Odyssey, with Price: Dr. Pretyman, bishop of Lincoln, Elements of Christian Theology, except the latter part, which relates to the Thirty-nine Articles: Captain Symes's Account of his Embassy to Ava, an entertaining work, containing an account of a country hitherto very imperfectly known, and reflecting great credit on the author for the judicious manner in which he seems to have executed his mission from the East India Company to the Birman Empire in the year 1795: and Herbert Marsh's History of the Politics of Great Britain and France, from the Conference at Pilnitz to the Declaration of War against Great Britain. June 29. Read the twelfth book of the Odyssey, with Price. 30. Began Marino's Adone, and read canto i Began Burnet's History of his own Times. July 1. Continued Burnet. 2. Continued Burnet; and read canto iii. of the Adone. 3. Read canto iv. of the Adone. 4. Read canto v. of the Adone; and continued Burnet. 5. Continued Burnet. 6. Read canto vi. of the Adone. 7. Began canto vii. of the Adone; and continued Burnet. 8. Finished canto vii. of the Adone; and continued Burnet, to the end of book ii. 9. Continued Burnet. 11 and 12. Continued Burnet. |